Archive for the ‘Insurance’ Category

Health care subsidies – What is the difference between, subsidies, premium assistance, tax credits: which apply to me and how do I get them?
Health care subsidies, subsidy, premium assistance, premium assistance credit, premium assistance tax credit, tax credit are all terms that are used interchangeably to describe money available to assist with the payment of monthly health insurance premiums for people that qualify for help.

Covered CAhas released Insurance Rates for the new health insurance plans.

What are Covered CA Insurance Rates?. Are they final, what information do I need before I start shopping for health insurance, and when can I start shopping?

Yes there are now average figures to give you an idea of what health insurance premiums will cost you every month, starting 2014. VERY rough average price ranges for an individual health plan are: Read more...

There is so much information circling around the internet and media outlets about Obamacare, health care reform and the new law. I feel very overwhelmed by it, and I only care how it affects me. What do I absolutely need to know?

1) If you have health insurance through an employer with more than 50 employees, you will probably not be affected by health care reform.

2) If you have health insurance through an employer with less than 50 employees, your employer MAY change the way he provides health insurance to take advantage of subsidies available to employees. If so, the health insurance broker he works with will help you with your health insurance. Read more...

I keep hearing that my employer needs to provide affordable health coverage, and if not, I am eligible to buy an individual health insurance plan and apply for subsidy (premium assistance credit). How is affordability determined and who determines it?

Is my employer required to offer me health insurance or not? I have heard conflicting information and I do not know where to look for health insurance or if I am eligible to apply for subsidy (premium assistance credit). How is affordability determined and who determines it?Read more...

I have a friend that got a notice from her work about the new health care law, but I have not gotten one from my employer. Should I ask about it? What does the notice say, and will it help me get health insurance? Right now I do not have any health insurance, it is not offered at work, but I know that I am supposed to get some in 2014. Will my boss start providing it, is that what this notice is about?Read more...

I work for a temp agency that calls me when they have an assignment. I never know how many hours I am going to work in a given month, but one assignment can keep me at a Company for 6 months, it just depends. Right now I have no health insurance, but would like to get some, starting in 2014, with the new law. Can I get it through the temp agency, one of the company’s I have been assigned to, or do I have to buy it myself? Read more...

I am 64 years old. I still work and have my health insurance through my job, but I am thinking about enrolling in Medicare around my 65th birthday, regardless of whether I retire or not. If I do that, can my child stay on my work’s insurance plan? He is 23 years old, and a full time student with a part time job that does not offer health insurance. I am worried about what will happen to him if I go elect Medicare coverage. Read more...

Covered CA, the state run marketplace created from health care reform, just issued an actuarial study about the impact of health care reform on health insurance rates for 2014. The results? Rates are going up somewhere between 20% and 30% or going down between 40% and 75%, depending on your income levels. So what do you do? Shop wisely. The actuarial report highlights the importance of being a smart shopper of health insurance. Being well informed on the plans available, and whether you qualify for subsidy, is critical for getting the best value from the new insurance plans available in 2014. Read more...